Don’t Be a Gym Troll: 7 Deadly Gym Sins to Avoid

I really should have titled this post “How Not to be an A**Hat at the Gym” but I decided to skip the expletives. But the title might be a little misleading: these aren’t really deadly sins, unless you make someone mad enough to clobber you with a dumbbell. The temptation is very real, folks! But nonetheless, these are my list of things that are really irritating at the gym. There are plenty of others but since that would fill a book, so I’m keeping this brief.

The reason I am writing this list is that while many of these things seem pretty common sense, people still manage to continually act like the gym world revolves around them. I have had gym-goers trample our things and walk through the middle of the classes I am teaching. Instead of getting angry about it, I decided to write about it. Oh wait…I’m already angry about it, too late! I’ll channel that frustration into something constructive: my list of 7 deadly gym sins to avoid, aka the things that annoy me the most when I’m at the gym. Read it, share it, and most of all, be considerate!

Walking through a class in progress. Just don’t. I don’t care who you are, or who you think you are, it is a common courtesy not to intrude and interrupt a fitness class in progress. You would be surprised at how many times this has happened in my classes

Judging people’s differing fitness levels.Don’t mock people who lift less, run less, or cycle less than you. Everyone is in a different place in their fitness journey. And a person’s size doesn’t always determine their athletic ability, so don’t judge the book by it’s cover. It takes a lot of guts for some people to even get themselves to the gym, don’t be the reason they decide to never come back.

Not respecting personal space.Don’t offer random advice to someone if you don’t know them, unless they are on an obvious road to injury. If you just can’t hold back and feel the need to be a busy-body, then ask first if they want some advice. Some will say yes, but if someone says no, respect that and leave them alone. And guys: quit gawking at girls (and vise versa). Some people actually go to the gym to exercise (crazy, right?!), so keep your eyes and comments to yourself. Chit-chat is fine, but trolling for gym-chics is just gross

Disrespecting other fitness styles. I know you think YOUR workout/class is the best thing since protein powder, but do me a favor and give some respect to the other fitness modalities out there. Not everyone has the same goals or the same fitness abilities, so stop judging. Better yet, get some variety in your life and try the other classes and workouts, you might be surprised

Hogging equipment. Sitting on a piece of strength training equipment for 10 solid minutes, especially when the gym is busy, or doing 200 reps of on the leg press is very irritating. I know you are afraid that as soon as you leave that machine to rest, someone will snatch it up, but when the place is busy it is courteous to alternate sets with people who might need the same machine. Our gym even has signs on equipment directing people to move away from the machines when resting. On a similar note…

Staking claim to equipment without checking to see if others are using it. I do a lot of supersets, giant sets, and circuits so I often step away from a piece of equipment and come back a few minutes later. I am always willing to share equipment, but many people won’t ask and they claim that piece of equipment for the next 20 minutes solid, and I still have 3 more sets to go. This happens a lot, and I have had to change my training plan for clients in the middle of our sessions because of this. I often leave a water bottle or my notebook behind to show that it is currently in use, but people are welcome to jump in to use it between my sets if 1) they ask and 2) they don’t start hogging the machine

Gossip. Nothing is more irritating than hearing non-stop gossip between gym-goers. Enough already! Go get some coffee and give us some peace and quiet.

Friends don’t let friends be gym trolls – share this if you know someone who needs to read it!

What is the most annoying/irritating thing that has happened to you at the gym?

Free eBook: Effective workouts you can do anywhere in under 30 minutes!

So-called "supersets" and "circuit training" have become excuses for impolite and self-centered people to monopolize machines or stations at the gym by "reserving" a couple at a time, either with a towel, a water bottle, clipboard, or by staying on one of them interminably. These people are only interested in their own fitness program. When you join a gym, you should be aware that it is not your or anyone else's private gym.Heads up, gym owners: people should be limited to 7-10 minutes on a particular machine or station; dead lift stations might be an exception, as would stations where changing several or heavy plates is inconvenient. In general, people should use one at a time. It's called courtesy and consideration for other people. Admittedly, those sorts of things are becoming passé in contemporary society. But they are still the right things to show.If you want to monopolize machines or stay on them and prevent others from using them, set up your own private gym. And to expect that another person must request
with a "mother may I?" to use the machine you're monopolizing in your "superset"or "circuit" is mean-spirited and arrogant.

That depends on the situation, sometimes I superset with other gym goers and we take turns using the same machine so we can both use it. It does get pretty frustrating when people take over the equipment for a long time! People just need to be considerate of others in every situation

I agree with all of the "7 Sins" that you listed. My personal pet peeve is when someone wears heavy perfume/cologne while working out. I'm sensitive to perfume as it is (it makes me sneeze or gives me a headache). When the temps get warm in a fitness class or a fellow gym-goer is sweating it up on the cardio machine next to me with strong perfume. No bueno...

Oh yes, that is definitely another one! My husband is sensitive to fragrance, too, so we have to be careful of perfume. I walked by the mens lockers room one day and someone must have showered in their cologne because the smell nearly knocked me out! Strong smells of any kind (BO included) are not a good thing when you're trying to focus on a workout

So funny! These are all so true. Along with walking through a class in progress, how about latecomers who just HAVE to be up in the front and basically squeeze into a spot that doesn't even exist. Seen that happen a few times and giggled. And what about people who wear see-thru pants (either intentionally or not). I don't want to see your butt when you're doing dead lifts! YIKES! Happy New Year!